Electrical swivel connecter



"1- 1 W..22,19z7.v 1,650,014A

A. R. GoLDRlcK ELECTRICAL SWIVEL CONNECTER `Filed Nov. 1. 1920 Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

ALBERT B. GOLDBICX,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRICAL SWIVEL CONNECTER.

Application med November 1, 1920. Serial No. 420,944.

This invention relates to new and improved electrical connecters, adapted for attachin electrical cords'carrying a plurality of conducting-wires to movable devices usi electric current. This invention is intend for use where such cords are attached to electric flat irons, massage machines, and similar devices which are moved about when in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide means in connection with an electrical conducting cord of more than one wire,

whereby the cord Wires may be .relieved from strain consequent to the repeated bending and twisting incident to the use of portable electrical appliances, and which quickly results in destruction of the wire or connection.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide means whereby a plurality of electrical conductors may be maintained in con-' ductive rcontact'. in an electrical connection, while permitting a universal angular movement of the cord terminal means.

My invention may be embodied in a variety of constructions, a fewy of whichl have set forth in the accompanying drawings, and the invention is hereinafter more fully described in connection with these drawings, the essential characteristics being summarized in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of my invention as used for a plug connection to a flat iron; Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. l substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. l; while Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same view substantially along the line 3-3,-and Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 1 along-the line 4.4 of Fig. 3; in Figs. 5, 6,

and 7, I have shown variations of the swivel construction which may be as conveniently used as the swivel construction shown in Fig. 2, while Fig. 8 shows the approximate relation of the swivel plug and flat iron when the former is connected to the latter; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken through the device at right a-ngles to the section shownin Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a. cross sectional view of the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 taken at substantially ri yht angles tothe section shown in Fig. 5; ig. l1 is a.- cross section taken substantially along the line 11-1 1 of Fig. 6.

Describing the drawings by the use of reference characters, in Fig. 1, I have shown a pair of plug body members 2 and 3, composed of any suitable insulating material avlng` cavities 4 withspherical surfaces at the inner ends thereof. A pair of cord terminal insulating members 5 and 6, having enlarged endswith spherical surfaces and adapted to loosely fit the cavity 4 of the plug body members 2 and 3, are shown as constituting the movable end of the device.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the fiat iron plug connections 7 and 8, which may be oonstructed of 'any conductive spring material of lov resistance. Incorporated with these contacts are the swivel strips 9r and 10, which may be constructed of the same material. These strips, which are punched near the inner ends to form the pivot bearings 11 and 12 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are adapted to act as a clamping means for holding metallic angle pieces 13 and 14, which'are oppositely located on the pivot bearing support 15, and serve to maintain these angle piecef upon the support.

(Io-operating with the angle pieces 13 and 14 are a pair of cord terminal conductors 16 and 17. The inner ends of these conductors are *formed in a manner similar to the punched ends of `the conductors 9 and 10, the punched portions being arranged to fit openings formed in the angle pieces 13 and 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The pivotalA axis of the conductors 16 and 17 is Substarr tially 90 from the pivotal axis of the con ductors 9 and 10.

In order to'maintain the support 15 in proper relative position to the plug` body members 2 and 3, the ends may be curved or circumferential; the axis of these surfaces being 90 apart and coincident with the pivotal axes of the conductors 9, 10 and 16 and 17. These ends are adapted to abut oomplementary surfaces formed in the plug body members 2 and 3, and the terminal insu. lating members 5 and 6.

The angle pieces 13 and 14 have punched bearing portions 41 which are adapted to it snugly into the holes 18 and 19 in the Support 15, while the inside diameters of these punched portions are adapted to receive the punched portions located near the ends of the conductors 16, v17, and 9, 10. Located in the plug body members 2, 3, 5 and 6 are the curved surfaces 202 and 212, which are complementary to the surfaces on the bearing support 15, and as the swivel is turned in any angular position within the external limitation of the insulation ,members these radial surfaces will permit the movement of the insulating members without at any time dislocating the center of the bearing support 15. This arrangement also serves the purof maintaining this center in its roper relation to the osition of the con uctiti members when e plug is being connec and is adapted to take up any pressure which might otherwise distort the swivel joint. When the plug is disconnected there is a ull or tension on the members 5 and 6, w 'oh fit the inner surface 4, and this stress is thereby taken up by the insulating members and is not transmitted through the swivel center.

In order to insure smooth rubbin between the plug body members, I ave provided the screws 20 and 21, which may be of such size as to act as dowel pins, as well as a binding means for retaining the various members in position.

Located at the outer end of the insulating members 5 and 6, I have provided a gooseneck extension which serves to increase the leverage action on the swivel center and greatly decreases the possibility of the wire twisting or breaking at the connecting point In Fig. 5, in which I have shown a variation in the construction of the swivel, the plug body members may be quite similar to those` shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The conducting means, however, is constructed so as to form contacting swivel surfaces, which take the form of concentric spherical surfaces. The outer connection, which is composed of the members 24 and 25, serve as one conductor, while the inner sphere com osed of the members 26 and 27 serve as t e other conductor. These spherical members may be properl spaced and insulated by means of the hol ow insulating cylindrical members 28 and 29, which Vserve to space the tubular Shanks 30 and 31, and 32 and 33. By con-- structing the .swivel in this manner the cord terminals may have a turning movement as well as a universal' angular movement. This turning lmovement may' act to relieve the torsional strain on the cord wires due to the twisting of .the same.

In F-ig.V 6,1 have shown another variation *of the Iswivel construction, in which a pair of spherical contact'surfaces are formed to provide a swivel conducting means for the conductors as-shown at 34, 35, 36 and 37 In order to prevent the members from sliding- Aout'of contact or to revent their movement in a .d irection whic would cause ashort circuiting, I have provided the punched porsurfaces -in a hollowball an ,the combination of a tions 38, which are ada ted to slide radially of the center of the erical surfaces, and be confined in the ra ial slots 40 as shown in Fig. 7. Themodit'ied constructions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may have plug body members which are assembled in the same manner as the plug body'members illustrated in i members and a plurality of conductora cary ried by each member,'each of saidv members being separable into half port-ions having cavities formed therein, wherein said conductors may lie with the adjacent ends in overlapping electrical contact, said' contacting portions being'arranged relative to. the

articulated members in such a manner as to permit the universal angular the articulated members.'

2. In a device of the characterdescri the combination of a air ofmembers join socket connection, a` plurality of conductors carried by .each member, the member comprising in part the socket of said connection bein lon 'tudinally separabley into half portions aving cavities formed therein wherein conductors ma lie with their ends extending into the sai hollow connection and in overlapping electrical contact withv the ends of conductors carried by the other member, said contacting portions being arranged relative to the ball and socket jointin such a manner that movement of universal angular movement of the members is ermitted. J

In a device-of the character described, sair of members joined in ahollow ball an socket connection, a plurality of Aconductors carried by eacli member one, member being longitudinally separable into half portions having cavities formed therein wherein conductors may lie with their ends extending intothe hollow ball and socket connection and in overlapping electrical contact with the ends of conductors carried by the other member, said contacting portions being articulated about the center of rotation of the ball and socket joint whereby` universal 'angular movement of the members is permitted. v

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a air of members join in4 a hollow ball an socket connection, a plurality of conductors carried by each member, both members being longitudinally sepsaid contacting portions being arranged relarable into .half portions having matched ative to the ball and socket joint in such a cavities formed therein wherein conductors manner that universal angular movement of 10 may lie with their ends extending into the the members is permitted.

5 hollow ball and socket connection and in In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my overlapping electrical contact with conducsignature. tors adapted to cari-57 current of like polarity, ALBERT R. GOLDRICK. 

